Paul E. Sumner
Harvesters
Curing Barn
Loading Doors
Foundation
Curing Chamber and Furnace Room Areas
Insulation
Equipment should be serviced and checked to ensure trouble free and efficient operation.
All harvester systems and parts should be checked for proper operation. The engine, power train, hydraulic system, tires, etc. should be serviced and checked. Check the condition and tension of drive belts and chains and replace if needed. All adjustment mechanisms should operate freely so that adjustments can be made rapidly and easily in the field.
The bulk curing barn should have a complete inspection before it is put into heavy use. The fan, thermostat and electrical controls should be cleaned. The capillary tube on thermostats should be checked for kinks and/or breaks. The wicks on wet bulb thermostats should be replaced and reservoirs checked. Belts, bearings and shafts should be checked and replaced if needed. Burner components should be inspected and cleaned and/or replaced if necessary.
Examine these few points to make the coming curing season a fuel efficient one.
Loading doors should be hung such that they will seal the entire opening. Gaskets around the door should be in good condition. Torn or frayed gaskets should be replaced. A good substitute material is thick piled carpet. This material can be easily obtained and installed to seal the loading doors. Garden hoses will not withstand the high air temperatures and should not be used as seals.
The foundation of bulk curing barns should be sealed with an asphalt sealant. This material will expand and contract as the barn heats up and cools during the curing season. A small crack between foundation and pad area can waste more money in energy loss than the small cost of sealing.
These areas should be examined closely. Look for small and large cracks. They should be sealed with a butyl caulk or a caulking material that can withstand 180oF air temperatures and remain flexible. One way of detecting air leaks is to go into the barn, close the door and look for daylight. These will be the areas to caulk.
Research has proven that insulating the bulk curing barn will save dollars. Payback for insulating ranges from 1 to 3 curing seasons depending on type of insulation used and area insulated. Utilize an insulating material that will not absorb moisture. This is a key factor since during curing humidity levels reach 100%. If the insulation absorbs moisture, the effectiveness of the insulation will be drastically reduced. Use insulation with an R-Value of 3 or more and insall a barrier to ensure permanent separation of the insulation and the tobacco. Loose or disintegrating insulation should be removed or a barrier of metal or wood put in place to prevent the insulation from comingling with cured tobacco. Insulation is a common source of foreign matter in tobacco and is expensive and difficult to separate from the tobacco..
An Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Organization Committed to a Diverse Work Force
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 18 and June 30, 1914, The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating.
Gale A. Buchanan, Dean and Director